FAQs

For new pianos, tuning several times a year is recommended, as the pitch on new instruments needs time to stabilize. For more seasoned pianos, most manufacturers recommend two tunings per year, or more often as your ear demands. Please note that a stable climate is essential for stable tunings. Try to maintain a climate of 35%-50% humidity without major swings in temperature.

The primary reason strings in a piano change pitch is because they move. This movement is caused mainly by atmospheric variations, particularly humidity. When tension in a string changes, the pitch also changes, resulting in a note that is out of tune with respect to the other notes in the piano. Strings can also move because of loose tuning pins — the pins that hold the strings in place and are turned during a tuning. When the tuning pins have lost considerable tension (typically in older pianos), movement of the string is again possible.

Regulation of the piano action adjusts the overall touch and consistency with which each note responds to your playing. A typical piano action consists of a few thousand parts, manufactured primarily with wood and felt. As the felt compresses over a period of time, the evenness of touch will change.

Voicing a piano controls, to a large extent, the tone of the piano and is separate from tuning. As a piano is played, the condition of the hammer felts will change. A trained technician can adjust the condition of the hammer felts to affect the range of tone that can emanate from your piano.

Yes. Avoid positioning your piano in the path of direct air from heating or cooling vents, or in the direct proximity of a humidifier. Try to maintain the relative humidity in a range of 35-50%. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, as this may bleach the finish and affect performance and stability. We recommend monitoring your climate with a hygrometer that measures the relative humidity of the space in which your piano resides.

For most pianos, a piece of clean cheesecloth, lightly dampened with water will be the best tool to clean the exterior of the piano. Follow with a soft dry cloth to remove excess moisture from the finish. Always wipe in the direction of the grain. Interior cleaning should be conducted by a professional. Please call us for an appointment.

Most modern pianos are now made with plastic keytops. If this is the case in your piano, use a soft cloth lightly dampened in a mild soap and water solution. Follow this immediately with another dry cloth. Do not allow any water to drip down the sides of the key since the key is made of wood and staining or swelling of the wood could occur. If coins, paper clips, or other small articles get wedged in or between the keys, it is best to call a qualified piano technician to have them removed. Pianos with original ivories for keytops require more specific care.